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Circuit-switched Network
Circuit-switched Network
In the area of telecommunications, a circuit-switched network is one that creates a fixed circuit or channel between terminals and nodes before user communication is initiated, making it appear as if the end-points are connected by an electrical circuit. Unlike packet switching, the delay remains constant and does not vary. Each circuit can only be used by other users when the circuit has been released and new connections are established. Even when no communication is taking place within the dedicated circuit, it is still unavailable to other users. Channels available for new connections are referred to as “idle”.
A circuit-switched network is often contrasted with a packet-switched network. Virtual circuit switching, technology derived from packet-switched networking, is able to emulate circuit switching in a sense. This is because a connection is established before any data is transferred and the packets are delivered to its destination in a specific order.